Loaded Tater Tot Nachos
User Reviews
5
48 reviews
Excellent
Loaded Tater Tot Nachos
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Loaded Tater Tot Nachos layer crispy baked tater tots with a creamy homemade nacho cheese sauce, crumbled bacon, fresh jalapeños, and scallions or cilantro. The rich cheese sauce, made with sharp cheddar and spices, coats the tots for a flavorful snack or appetizer offering a balance of crunchy texture and zesty savory notes.
Description
Loaded Tater Tot Nachos start with frozen tater tots baked at high heat until golden and crisp. They are topped with crumbled crispy bacon and fresh sliced jalapeños along with chopped scallions or cilantro for brightness. The centerpiece is a velvety nacho cheese sauce prepared by melting grated extra-sharp cheddar with milk, butter, flour, and cream cheese, seasoned with cayenne, garlic powder, and salt.
The combination results in a layered dish highlighting textures from crunchy tots and bacon to soft, smooth cheese with a mild spice kick from cayenne and jalapeños. The fresh herbs cut through the richness.
Variations and extras can include pickled jalapeños, pico de gallo, olives, black beans, guacamole, and salsa for personalized toppings. The cheese sauce is best prepared fresh and poured over warm tots for peak flavor and texture.
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Ingredients
- 1 bag tater tots approx. 32 oz, frozen
- 6-8 lices Bacon
- 1-2 jalapeños
- ⅓ cup scallions or cilantro (or a mix of both, chopped, fresh
- sour cream for topping
NACHO CHEESE SAUCE
- 4-5 oz extra-sharp cheddar cheese or Cabot Medium Cheddar Cheese, brand Cabot
- ¾ cup milk (2% or whole)
- 1 TBSP butter unsalted
- 1 TBSP all-purpose flour
- 1 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1/4-1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
- ⅛ tsp garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp salt plus any extra to taste
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
- jalapeño peppers click for recipe, sliced, pickled
- Pico de Gallo (click for recipe)
- olives sliced
- black beans
- guacamole (click for recipe)
- onion fresh or pickled
- salsa (click for recipe)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and help the tots get golden brown.
- Arrange tots in a single layer atop the parchment lined pan and bake for approx 25-28 minutes on the oven's center rack until cripsy and golden. For even cripsier tots, slap on an oven mit and shake the pan up a little at the 10 minute mark to ensure all the tots get nice and crispy.
- While the tots bake, prepare cheese sauce and prep choice of toppings.
- If using bacon, cook via favorite method until crispy and crumble into small pieces. My favorite speedy method for this is to chop the bacon into 1/4-1/2 inch pieces and cook in a skillet until crispy.
- Next make nacho cheese sauce. Freshly grate Cabot cheese (pre-shredded cheese won't work here) and measure out all ingredients. This sauce comes together fast!
- Warm the milk in the microwave for 30-40 seconds and set aside. Heat a small sauce pot and add butter. Once melted, add flour and whisk into butter vigorously as it becomes bubbly and foamy. Continue to cook and whisk constantly for about a minute to cook off the flour taste.
- Add warmed milk and whisk vigorously into flour mixture. Allow milk to come to a simmer, whisking occasionally as it thickens. Once it has thickened, remove pot from heat. Add cream cheese and whisk until melted.
- Next slowly add grated Cabot cheddar in 3 batches, stirring it in until the cheese is fully melted. I like to keep the pot off the heat here so the cheese doesn't overhead and turn gritty. If working quickly the sauce should be hot enough to melt the cheese. Season with cayenne pepper and salt. Adjust spices to taste. If your stove top has a low/warm setting, allow pot to sit on the burner set to low or warm to keep the cheese nice and melty. It will thicken as it cools but thin back out once brought back to heat. Easy peasy!
- Prep remaining toppings and feel free to add any optional extras from the list above!
- Once tots are hot and ready from the oven, pour cheese sauce on top and pile on the toppings. Enjoy while they're hot, cripsy, and oh so delicious!
Notes
- Use freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese for the nacho sauce; pre-shredded cheese may not melt properly.
- Bake the tater tots on a parchment-lined sheet and shake the pan halfway to ensure even crisping.
- Cook bacon chopped into small pieces for quick, evenly crispy results.
- Customize toppings such as pickled jalapeños, pico de gallo, or guacamole to vary the dish.
- Nutrition facts are estimates and can change with added extras.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
366kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
31g
(10%)
Protein
9g
(18%)
Fat
24g
(37%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
4g
(24%)
Monounsaturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Cholesterol
35mg
(12%)
Sodium
741mg
(31%)
Potassium
404mg
(9%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
374IU
(7%)
Vitamin C
11mg
(12%)
Calcium
153mg
(15%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 366 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 366kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 31g | 10% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 24g | 37% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 35mg | 12% |
| Sodium | 741mg | 31% |
| Potassium | 404mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 374IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 11mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 153mg | 15% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
48 reviews
Excellent
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